Ukraine calls for moves to unblock ports and prevent global food crisis

[highplainsdem]

Source: Reuters

KYIV, May 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine's president said on Monday that trade at the country's ports was at a standstill and urged the international community to take immediate steps to end a Russian blockade to allow wheat shipments and prevent a global food crisis.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy made the comments after speaking to European Council President Charles Michel, who was visiting Odesa - the major Black Sea port for exporting agricultural products where missiles struck tourist sites and destroyed buildings on Monday.

"For the first time in decades and decades, in Odesa there is no regular movement of the merchant fleet, there is no routine port work. This has probably never happened in Odesa since World War Two," Zelenskiy said in a video address.

"And this is a blow not only to Ukraine. Without our agricultural exports, dozens of countries in different parts of the world are already on the brink of food shortages. And over time, the situation can become, frankly, frightening."

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-exported-over-1-million-tonnes-grain-april-despite-war-2022-05-09/

[captain queeg]

1. They used to call Ukraine the bread basket of Russia or Europe or something.

Maybe they still do, it’s a big exporter of grain and the war has already impacted crops. Not being able to export is a big hit. The Russians have a lot of subs there but I haven’t read of merchant ships being sunk. They are probably afraid and just staying in port. The Russian subs are launching missile attacks though. I read today where the Ukrainians attacted a surfaced sun. Maybe they have to surface to launch missles. The sub got underwater too quickly to be hit but the Ukrainians think they damaged it by surface explosions. That’s not likely, but perhaps the west will end up supplying torpedoes that can track under water. The first time they manage to sink a Russian sub that will have a big impact on Russian submarine operations.

[maxsolomon]

2. The Black Sea is Russia's playground.

It's not going to be possible without a quid pro quo or a cessation of hostilities.

Zelenskyy knows it.

[mopinko]

4. and he knows it shouldnt be any more.

they are breaking treaties w this shit, i'm pretty sure.

[mopinko]

3. i've been saying for while that ru can and should be blocked in the black sea.

i see zero reason why we/nato dont steam into the black sea and put an end to this bullshit.

[maxsolomon]

5. because it would start a wider war

we really do not need another World War.

[mopinko]

7. we're in a world war. sorry to tell you.

[maxsolomon]

8. that is your opinion and your definition.

we are in a proxy war, yes.

direct conflict between Russian and American/NATO forces would be a World War.

[ck4829]

6. Because Russia is ISIS with nukes

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

9. Russia pummels vital port of Odesa, targeting supply lines

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — Russia pummeled the vital port of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday, an apparent effort to disrupt supply lines and Western weapons shipments critical to Kyiv’s defense.

Ukraine’s ability to stymie a larger, better-armed Russian military has surprised many who had anticipated a much quicker end to the conflict. With the war now in its 11th week and Kyiv bogging down Russian forces and even staging a counteroffensive, Ukraine’s foreign minister appeared to suggest the country could expand its aims beyond merely pushing Russia back to areas it or its allies held on the day of the Feb. 24 invasion.

One of the most dramatic examples of Ukraine’s ability to prevent easy victories is in Mariupol, where Ukrainian fighters remained holed up at a steel plant, denying Russia’s full control of the city. The regiment defending the plant said Russian warplanes continued bombarding it.

In recent days, the United Nations and Red Cross organized a rescue of what some officials said were the last civilians trapped at the plant. But two officials said Tuesday about 100 were believed to still be in the complex’s underground tunnels. Others said that was impossible to confirm.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-business-nato-moscow-c8e00f7bbc4f24aa40d70a4ac2d97adb

[bluewater]

10. Time for NATO to call Putin's bluff and open those blockaded Ukrainian ports.

Past time, actually.